The door was shut

 by David Long

"And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in" (Gen. 7:15-16). When Lord shut Noah and his family in, He shut all others out. 

"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Matt. 25:10-13). One of these days the door is going to be shut. Will you be ready? If not you will be shut out. 

Have you obeyed the gospel?

 by David Long

The apostle Paul wrote concerning his fellow Jews, "But they have not all obeyed the gospel..." (Rom. 10:16). Those who do not obey the gospel will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord (2 Thess. 1:7-9). How does one obey the gospel? Is obeying the gospel just believing in Jesus? Is it accepting Jesus into your heart as your personal savior? No! Obeying the gospel begins by hearing the word (Rom. 10:17). Then one must believe it (John 8:24). Then one must repent of sins (Acts 17:30). Then one must confess faith in Christ (Acts 8:37). Then one must be immersed in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Then on must live faithfully (Rev. 2:10). 

Silence of the Scriptures

 by David Long

"For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood" (Heb. 7:14). Why couldn't Jesus be a priest on earth? Because He was from the wrong tribe of Israel. Moses mentioned nothing about priests in connection with the tribe of Judea. 

Remember this: The Bible authorizes by what it says not by what it doesn't say. Some people will use the silence of the Scriptures for their authority to do something. Bad idea (1 Pet. 4:11).

Many believed on Him; but

 by David Long

"Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue" (John 12:42). Here is proof that belief alone will not save. Saving faith requires obedience. "Ye see how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only" (James 2:24). This will help you understand Acts 16:30-34. 

Who you gonna believe?

 by David Long

"Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 3:20-21).

There are those who teach that baptism doesn't save. 1 Peter 3:20-21 teaches that it does. Who you gonna believe: man or the Bible? 

Are you part of the problem?

 by David Long

Jesus prayed for unity (John 17:20-21). The Bible condemns denominational division (1 Cor. 1:10-13). If you are a member of a denomination then you are part of the problem. If you believe that the church that Jesus built doesn't matter then you are part of the problem. If you believe you can have Jesus without the church then you are part of the problem. If you believe that one church is as good as another then you are part of the problem. Jesus has only one church (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4). If you are not a member of it then you are part of the problem. 

My church

 by David Long

Jesus said, "I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18). The church that Jesus built is not your church or my church, it's the church of Christ. Jesus died for the church (Acts 20:28). It belongs to Christ. He is the builder and owner. It doesn't wear man-made names and it doesn't teach denominational doctrines. The church that Jesus built is not a denomination nor part of a denomination. Jesus has only one church (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4).